Friday, September 7, 2012

Not one, but two new toys!!!

You might remember that I have been shopping for a vintage sewing machine. After that day I started looking hard. I decided the featherweights were awesome but just too pricey for what I wanted it for. 

One day I typed Elna into my search engine (because my everyday machine is an Elna) and I found vintage Elnas.  They really got me intrigued. Sure they weigh a lot more than the featherweight but they are more unique to me. 

One night while talking to my friend Mara, who happens to be an addicted auction goer, I told her about my new search. She told me to hold one, she was pretty sure she had one that her late husband Ed had purchased. I could hear her walking, as she stepped into her garage she said, "Yes I thought he had one". "It's yours!" she told me. She said Ed would be proud if I would put it to use.

The blacksmith went Wednesday and picked it up for me.


It comes neatly packaged in this heavy metal green case. 


My jack-of-all-trades blacksmith immediately got to work on it. For a night and a day, he sewed lots of scraps. He has it about 95% ready to use. It sews nice, but we still feel a professional clean up on it would be great. 


I love my Elna Supermatic, dated 1953. It has one unique feature, the case turns into a sewing table. Oh yes, it also sews using a knee bar.


It also has cams. You insert these to make decorative stitches, including zig-zag. The machine has everything that originally came with it, the book, the tools, and attachment feet. 

Thank you Mara!  I will think of Ed every time I sew with it.

The same evening my Bernina Deco 600 embroidery machine arrived. I had purchased it off of EBay a week earlier. I feel I got a darn good deal on it. There were 3 software patterns included still in the original shrink wrap.  They had a price tag of $139 each. That is more than I paid for the machine. 



It sat for two days just like this. I feared it. I've never used one, knew nothing about it. 


Tonight I decided now was the time. In less than 30 minutes I had made a few attempts. Sure they aren't perfect, I'm hoping time will take care of that. Along with some coaxing from some good friends!  Right Deanna?

I am so lucky, life is good!

11 comments:

Flat Creek Farm said...

You are one blessed girl... two fabulous sewing machines in such a short time! And I have no doubts that you will have them both mastered, and soon :) Love the vintage Elna.. she is *sweet*! Off I go to steal another slice of fresh, warm bread. I think my new toy is a good/bad kind of thing.. lol. -Tammy

Doreen said...

Awesome 'finds'!!! Great things to come I'm sure. Congrats! Hugs, D

GerryART said...

Two VERY NICE additions, Patti.

Your Elna is definitely a wonderful treasure that will bring memories from the very beginning.

Sew Happy, gal!

hugs

Dora, the Quilter said...

Those Elnas *are* wonderful machine. (My mom had a Supermatic that was about 10 years younger and 10 or 15 years after that, my sister bought one.) There is at least one yahoo group specific to vintage Elnas.

Sounds like you got a good deal on the embroidery machine too.

Happy sewing!

Lucky Duck Dreams said...

Congrats! On the embroidery machine use stabilizer, use the write bobin thread-white or black you dont need to match colors and prewould is best and cheap. ALso check the tension. Love the ELNA! You hit the jackpot! I found a vintage two tone chrome 1950s Classic machine at a flea market for $25 it is a zig zag machine and sews great.

Dar said...

You ARE living right, Patti. Those are both awesome new toys. Since I have an old Deco embroidery machine -- I KNOW you got a great deal. Good for you. I expect to see some great labels for your quilts from that too.

Diana LaMarre said...

What fun you can have with the embroidery machine making special labels for all those special quilts. It sounds like you got a steal on that one!

Deanna said...

Absolutely! Your first attempts are amazing! It does sound like you got a good deal. You know you can call anytime you have any questions.

I've never heard of an Elna until you talked about it. It looks like a very cool sewing machine... way ahead of its time. I have my mom's vintage 1940's Singer Featherweight. I treasure it like nothing else.

Have a great week and happy sewing!

Annie at Haphazard Homestead said...

Cool toys! I can barely operate my regular machine, let alone an embroidery machine.

Can't wait to see what you create!

Lise said...

Awesome toys, and I have no doubt that you will master each of them in no time! Everything you have shared on your blog that you have produces is beautiful and clearly quality! Yeah for you, can't wait to see your new stuff!

StitchinByTheLake said...

Patti I've been so blessed with finding a Featherweight back when I was working and could afford it! I bet you're going to love this little machine. :) blessings, marlene